[Fwd: [governance] Workshop proposal - Internationalisation of

Mon Apr 13 09:54:58 EDT 2009

There is another, deeper problem with Parminder's formulation. When we talk about "participative political governance" we need to explicitly recognize that "democratic" governance must always take place within a framework of protected rights of individuals. Majorities can be as oppressive as unaccountable tyrants, we all know. So while I prefer Parminder's reference to "participative political governance by all people of the world" to vague references to "multistakeholderism" I think that will sound threatening to many people unless we also make it clear that such governance is limited and contained by rights and freedoms _from_ governance in the appropriate areas.

Milton Mueller
Professor, Syracuse University School of Information Studies
XS4All Professor, Delft University of Technology
------------------------------
Internet Governance Project:
http://internetgovernance.org<http://internetgovernance.org/>

________________________________
From: Ian Peter [mailto:ian.peter at ianpeter.com]
Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 1:39 AM
To: 'Parminder'; governance at lists.cpsr.org
Subject: RE: [Fwd: [governance] Workshop proposal - Internationalisation of IG

Parminder, my problems with the way you have phrased this is below.

The wording "Participative political governance by all people of the world, who are all implicated"  will, I think, lead to an argument that the appropriate participative structures for all people are governments, and sovereign states are the basic building blocks for people's participation in internet governance (and so the rest of you can go home!)  Unless we have strong arguments - which we do - that other players such as private sector and CS need to be represented separately because of the nature of their structures and their avenues for richer levels of participation.

I dont think we are far apart here but we do need some appropriate wording. How about

One thing however is clear by now; the Internet is not just a technical artifact, requiring technical governance with regard to keeping it running smoothly,
but a key socio-political phenomenon. This requires participative political involvement of all people, including civil society, private sector and governmental actors in multistakeholder governance structures

Ian Peter

PO Box 429

Bangalow NSW 2479

Australia

Tel (+614) 1966 7772 or (+612) 6687 0773

www.ianpeter.com

________________________________
From: Parminder [mailto:parminder at itforchange.net]
Sent: 13 April 2009 14:14
To: governance at lists.cpsr.org; Ian Peter
Subject: Re: [Fwd: [governance] Workshop proposal - Internationalisation of IG

Ian Peter wrote:
Thanks Parminder - one small suggested change

>One thing however is clear by now; the Internet is not just a technical artifact, requiring technical governance with regard to keeping it running smoothly,
> but a key socio-political phenomenon requiring participative political governance [by all people of the world, who are all implicated]

Can I suggest replacing the bracketed words with " involving civil society, private sector and governmental actors in multistakeholder governance structures

How does that sit?

Ian,

Frankly, I believe that the basic political purpose is to get equal political representation of all people and all sections of people, of the world. Multistakeholderism is *only a means*, to the extent it does achieve the purpose, of ensuring that such participation is in fact achieved. I have great issues in mentioning multistakeholderism *instead of* participation of all people. Such a stance underlies a new political ideology that is taking strong roots in the world, which in my view is essentially anti-democratic. I have no problem with *also* mentioning multistakeholderism along with political participation of people of the world.

regards

Parminder

Ian Peter

PO Box 429

Bangalow NSW 2479

Australia

Tel (+614) 1966 7772 or (+612) 6687 0773

www.ianpeter.com<http://www.ianpeter.com>

________________________________
From: Parminder [mailto:parminder at itforchange.net]
Sent: 13 April 2009 13:07
To: 'governance at lists.cpsr.org<mailto:governance at lists.cpsr.org>'
Subject: [Fwd: [governance] Workshop proposal - Internationalisation of IG

This is an attempted draft for the proposed internationalisation workshop.
Title

Democratic internationalization of Internet Governance - The way forward from where we stand today
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Concise description (up to 200 words)

As the Internet becomes a key factor of reorganizing our social structures, and doing so at a global level as never before, democratic global governance of the Internet is a pressing imperative. Its present governance structures grew out of certain historical contexts, as well as of some new socio-political realities around the Internet. In the context of rapid changes that the Internet has wrought, the key and emerging issues related to its governance, and the correspondingly legitimate governance arrangements, could not have been anticipated by anyone. One thing however is clear by now; the Internet is not just a technical artifact, requiring technical governance with regard to keeping it running smoothly, but a key socio-political phenomenon requiring participative political governance by all people of the world, who are all implicated.  However, the direction we move in from here depends on where we stand. It is important to analyze the needs of evolution and internationalization of IG from these dual standpoints.

The workshop will seek to discuss some real institutional possibilities of what to do next, possibly presenting and analyzing alternative models, along with the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Relates to theme - IG, CIRs

Who would you approach as co-organizers ? Or who do you think should organize it?

It is best that this workshop is organized by civil society actors. IG Caucus will like to organize this workshop, along with some  civil society organizations form the North and South that have shown interest.

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